Is viscose a natural fiber?

No. Viscose is a man-made fiber: it is made from cellulose, generally from wood, chemically transformed and then spun. It differs from synthetic fibers such as polyester, which come from petroleum.

Why does linen wrinkle so much?

Linen fiber has little elasticity: once folded, it does not return to its shape on its own. This wrinkling is part of its look, and washed or prewashed linen makes it softer.

Linen, Cotton or Viscose: Which Fabric to Choose

Q: Linen, cotton or viscose: which fabric to choose?

Linen suits summer clothing: it is breathable, strong and develops a patina over time, but it wrinkles. Cotton is versatile and easy to care for, suited to shirts, t-shirts and jeans. Viscose offers a fluid drape for dresses and trousers, but it is more fragile when wet. The choice therefore depends on how the garment will be used.

In short:
Linen is a natural fiber from the stem of the plant, very strong and breathable.
Cotton is a natural fiber from the seed of the cotton plant, versatile and easy to care for.
Viscose is a man-made fiber made from cellulose, with a very fluid drape.
France is the world’s leading producer of textile linen.

Three fiber families

Linen and cotton are natural plant fibers. Viscose is a man-made fiber: it starts from a natural material, wood cellulose, but undergoes a chemical transformation before being spun. This difference explains their behavior.

Comparing the three fabrics

Criterion	Linen	Cotton	Viscose
Origin	Stem of the plant	Seed of the cotton plant	Transformed cellulose
Feel	Dry, textured	Soft	Fluid, silky
Wrinkling	High	Medium	Medium
Strength	Very good	Good	Fragile when wet
Ideal use	Summer, shirts, trousers	Basics, jeans	Dresses, fluid trousers

Linen

One of the strongest fibers, linen breathes and dries quickly. France is its leading producer worldwide for textile use. It develops a patina with each wash.

Cotton

Versatile, it makes up most basics, from the t-shirt to denim. Raw or washed denim is the most common example.

Viscose

It gives a drape close to silk, appreciated for wide-leg trousers for women. It is washed at low temperature and without strong spinning, because it is more fragile when wet.

Read the label before buying

The exact composition appears on the label, which is mandatory in the European Union. The article on clothing labels and manufacturing explains how to read it.